HR – Page 14 – Doug Dickerson on Leadership

Leadership Minute: No Limits!

Posted December 2, 2013
by admin

Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember you can achieve. – Mary Kay Ash

Your growth and development as a leader in large part is determined by what you believe to be true about yourself. When you learn to take the lid off of any self-perceived limitations you can begin an amazing lifetime journey. Believe in yourself and tune out any doubters. What others think doesn’t matter. It’s as you remove your doubts and limitations that you can dare to dream, reach your goals, and live your destiny. What limitations are holding you back? Let them go! Live your life with no limits and live your life on purpose!

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Leadership and the Art of Thinking

Posted November 24, 2013
by admin

If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking. – General George S. Patton

A story is told of a man who bought a new gadget- unassembled, of course, and after reading and rereading the instructions he couldn’t figure out how it went together. Finally, he sought the help of an old handyman who was working in the backyard.

The old fellow picked up the pieces, studied them, and then began assembling the gadget. In a short time, he had it put together. “That’s amazing,” said the man. “And you did it without even looking at the instructions!” “The fact is,” the old man said, “I can’t read, and when a fellow can’t read, he’s got to think.”

Thinking is essential to your leadership. You deal with dozens of decisions a day that require clear thought and sound judgment and you need to be able to make those decisions wisely. How you think is just as important as what you think. Here are six ways to think and lead with confidence.

Think inside the box for structure.

Structure is a discipline you need as a leader. Your team draws strength and stability from knowing you are leading with confidence and taking the organization in the right direction. Thinking inside the box helps to secure proper boundaries. These boundaries aren’t meant to restrict you but to give you direction. Think big thoughts and channel them in the right direction.

Think outside the box for creativity.

Thinking outside the box is where your creative juices are given permission to roam freely and be tested for reliability. Not every idea or thought you have outside the box will become reality but if you ever plan grow beyond your current state you need to get out of the box. Thinking outside the box grows your boundaries and expands your creativity. Don’t be afraid to grow your borders.

Think independently for confidence.

There should be regular times when you step away from the noise and clatter of the office and find time for thinking and reflecting in private. It’s during these times you gain clarity for your vision and new direction for your purpose. The credibility of your leadership is developed as you demonstrate sound thinking with reliable judgments. Develop this skill in quiet times and your voice will be a respected one in the challenging times.

Think collaboratively for the big picture.

Nothing will get creativity flowing more than collaborative brain-storming sessions with everyone at the table. When ideas are flowing out of a shared passion and commitment to success it builds morale and unity. As a leader you need and should want to know what others are thinking. The big picture becomes clearer when everyone has skin, as well as their thoughts, in the game. When you think together and work together you will succeed together.

Think short term for building success.

Short-term goals are simply the foundations and pillars of your long range plans. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will your goals and dreams. Your business plan contains the necessary ingredients and ideas for you to follow. Your short-term goals are simply measuring rods or benchmarks of your success. Thinking through and executing your short term goals are an essential part of reaching your future goals. Think short term but don’t be short-sighted.

Think long term for enduring success.

Your long term success is a product of right thinking in the short-term as well as for the long haul. It takes patience, dedication, and hard work to achieve those goals. Thinking through your goals and executing your plan will come in phases and each one will require different actions. Along the way you can evaluate where you are what adjustments you need to make. Thinking through both short term and long term goals will guide you through this process.

“Thoughts, like fleas,” said Stanislaw Lec, “jump from man to man. But they don’t bite everybody.” That’s why critical thinking is a discipline leaders must learn to develop. As you cultivate your thinking skills you can lead with greater confidence and skill.

What are you thinking?

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Go to the top of the page to order your books today

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For speaking inquiries email Doug at [email protected]

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Leadership Minute: Press On!

Posted November 20, 2013
by admin

Press on. Obstacles are seldom the same size tomorrow as they are today. – Robert H. Schuller

Once in a while as a leader it’s reassuring to be reminded of this simple truth. The weight and responsibility of leadership can drag you down and it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that tomorrow is a new day. The view you have of today’s troubles can improve drastically in just 24 hours. Keep your eye on the ball, keep your attitude right, and don’t be distracted by the obstacles you face today. Tomorrow is a new day with new opportunities. Press on!

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Go to the top of the page to order your books today

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For speaking inquires email Doug at [email protected]

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4 Ways to Lead Complainers

Posted November 9, 2013
by admin

Maturity is the ability to reap without apology and not complain when things don’t go well. – Jim Rohn

A story is told of a guide at Blarney Castle in Ireland who was explaining to some visitors that his job was not always as pleasant as it seemed. He told them about a group of disgruntled tourists he had taken to the castle earlier in the week.

“Those people were complaining about everything,” he said. “They didn’t like the weather, the food, their hotel accommodations, the prices, everything. Then to top it off, when we arrived at the castle, we found that the area around Blarney Stone was roped off. Workmen were making some kind of repairs.” “This is the last straw!” exclaimed one lady who seemed to be the chief faultfinder in the group. “I’ve come all this way, and now I can’t even kiss the Blarney Stone.”

“Well, you know,” the guide said, “according to legend, if you kiss someone who has kissed the stone, it’s the same as kissing the stone itself.” “And I suppose you’ve kissed the stone,” said the exasperated lady. “Better than that,” replied the guide, “I’ve sat on it.”

Like the lady in the story, I bet your office has a chief faultfinder. You know the one (hopefully it’s not you) I am talking about; nothing is ever right and this person feels that it’s his or her duty to criticize everything.

These people are not only a nuisance but they have a negative impact on the rest of your office and undercut morale. In a recent article put out by Seton Doctor Link (http://bit.ly/17Llub2), some 18% of U.S. employees are ‘actively disengaged,” negative, and likely to complain about their employers, according to a Gallup poll of 31, 265 employees. When this high a percentage are disengaged or complaining it can have serious consequences. Here are four tips to help you deal with the habitually complaining employee.

Engage

The purpose here is to get to the root of the problem as to why this person feels compelled to complain all the time. It could be completely legitimate but the employee simply has chosen the wrong vehicle to express their concerns. On the other hand it could just be an ill-content employee who is making noise. Regardless, get to the bottom of it quick before this person does any more damage. You can turn their poison into praise simply by engagement. But if the poison remains then keep on reading.

Encourage

On your hands is a person with passion that needs to be channeled in the right direction. Instead of just hearing their gripes you can commission them to bring viable solutions to the table. Don’t just give the person a forum to vent, convey your expectation that if they have something to complain about then you expect solutions from them. This will either cause them to step up and take responsibility to make things better or at the very least quiet them down. Either way, make your expectations clear.

Elevate

No one wants a complainer or whiner in the office. They drain the positive energy out of the office and their negative energy is toxic. If you feel that this person’s heart is in the right place (although their vocal chords may not be) and their contributions outweigh their complaining, then do what you can to elevate this person to a higher level. It could be that their complaining ways is a blind spot that needs to be pointed out. Let them know that being the office critic is not constructive and that there are better ways to channel their concerns. If all else fails then you may have no other choice than to do what’s next.

Eject

While this is a last option it is nevertheless an option that you should not take off the table. You cannot allow the constant critic to continue on with his or her toxic ways and bring down office morale and camaraderie. Go through these steps with every intention of a positive outcome and consider what’s best for everyone. It’s been said, “What you tolerate, you promote,” and so you must decide the type of environment and office culture you want to promote. If one bad apple is making everyone miserable then let the bad apple go.

On balance I must stress that there should be room for disagreement and open discussion in your workplace. That is healthy and necessary when done properly. But the constant whiner should be engaged, encouraged, elevated, and if all else fails, ejected.

What do you say?

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If you enjoy reading Doug’s leadership insight you will especially enjoy reading his books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website at www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com to order your copies today.

For speaking inquiries email Doug at [email protected]

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Leadership Minute: Can You Change?

Posted November 5, 2013
by admin

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. – George Bernard Shaw

Possessing a willingness to change is essential in leadership. We can make our plans and chart our course, but unless we are willing to adjust the sails from time to time we can end up at undesired destinations. A good leader if he or she is wise will always have an open mind and a willingness to adapt to fluid circumstances. Don’t be so rigid in your thinking that you forfeit better alternatives simply because you can’t change. Good leaders are open to change. Good leaders welcome change. Good leaders reap the rewards of change. Can you change?

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Follow at: www.twitter.com/managemntmoment

Doug is available to speak for your business, civic, or church group for leadership development and keynotes. For speaking inquires email Doug at [email protected]

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Leadership Minute: Everyone’s Important

Posted November 1, 2013
by admin

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, ‘Make me feel important.’ Never forget this message when working with people. – Mary Kay Ash

This is perhaps one of the cardinal rules of leadership. When you understand that people want to feel important and that leadership is about people then you are on your way to understanding how leadership works. So often we focus on the mechanics of leadership that we fail to understand this most important point. Without people leadership does not exist. Make every person you come in contact with feel like the most important person in the world. Once you do, you are on your way to becoming a great leader.

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute, you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Follow at: www.twitter.com/managemntmoment

Doug is available to speak for your business, civic, or church group for leadership development and keynotes. For more information email Doug at [email protected]

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Leadership Minute: Life Rewards

Posted October 29, 2013
by admin

The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done. – Arnold Palmer

In leadership you have two choices when it comes to the things that seemingly can’t be done. Both are based not on whether it’s true or not but your belief system. Your choices are simple; believe it can’t be done and never know the joy of success, or dare to believe and try to make it happen and experience those rewards. How do you look at the obstacles you face? I’d like to encourage you to change your way of thinking and dare to believe for the impossible.

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted. Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Follow at: www.twitter.com/managemntmoment

Doug is available to speak for your business, civic, or church group. Email Doug for more information at [email protected]

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Leadership Minute: Legacy Leadership

Posted October 28, 2013
by admin

After a real leader has moved on, the people who worked for him or her always say, “I learned more and did more than I ever thought I could.” – Alan M. Webber

Have you given much thought to your leadership legacy? The truth is your leadership legacy is being crafted today. It’s being shaped and formed with each interaction, with each teachable moment and with every interaction. How do you want to be remembered as a leader? Consider the little things along the way that make a big difference. Remember, it’s not about what you received that will define you as a leader but rather what you given and how you invested yourself in the life of others. Be generous.

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Follow at: www.twitter.com/managemntmoment

Doug is available to speak for your business, civic, or church group. For more information email Doug at [email protected]

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4 Distractions Every Leader Must Ignore

Posted October 26, 2013
by admin

Happiness can only be found if you can free yourself of all other distractions – Saul Bellow

There is a story involving Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher for the New York Yankees, and Hank Aaron, who at the time was the chief power hitter for the Milwaukee Braves. The teams were playing in the World Series, and as usual Yogi was keeping up his ceaseless chatter, intended to pep up his teammates on the one hand and distract the Milwaukee batters on the other.

As Aaron came to the plate, Yogi tried to distract him by saying, “Henry, you’re holding the bat wrong. You’re supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark.” Aaron didn’t say anything, but when the next pitch came he hit it into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and tagging up at home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi and said, “I didn’t come here to read.”

How you handle distractions at work is important. According to Business Insider (http://read.bi/11JD4oo) your number one distraction at work is your co-workers. And while there are many other things that compete for your time and attention you must develop a skillset and the necessary discipline to effectively handle the distractions that come your way. Here are four distractions that are quite common but if you can master these you can surely take care of the rest.

Idle Chatter

Tying into the Business Insider finding it does not come as a surprise that idle chatter can derail your productivity and progress. Just as Yogi Berra tried to distract Hank Aaron at the plate when at bat, you too, must fend off those who would cause you to take your eye off the ball and fall victim to idle chatter. There is a time and place for talk but make sure it is not keeping your from what’s most important. If you can’t stop the idle chatter you need to remove yourself from it. Don’t get distracted by idle talk.

Pesky Critics

There will always be those critics who tell you how to hold the bat, what you are doing wrong, and what you should have done. Berra tried getting into the Aaron’s head by telling him he was holding the bat wrong. In leadership you will discover that many distractors are should-have-been’s and want-a-be’s who feel it is there place to set you straight. You will not eliminate your critics, but you can learn to silence them. How? Just like Aaron did. He hit the ball out of the park and that’s what you have to do. Nothing will silence your distractors quicker than remarkable success.

Petty Complainers

Similar in approach to the critics there will unfortunately be a regiment of complainers who feel it’s their calling in life to complain. You know their type; they are not happy unless they make others miserable, they find the cloud in every silver lining, the pitcher is always half empty, and things are just never quite as good as they think it should be (especially if they were in charge). If you’re not careful these complainers can turn into major distractors if you don’t learn to ignore them. Simply consider the source and move on. If the complainers’ lot in life is to be unhappy then you have the right of refusal to go along. Stay above it and out of their way.

Unhealthy cynics.

What is so detrimental about the cynics is that they never truly bought in to the mission or vision of your organization or values. True team players are all-in and totally invested in doing everything possible to make things work. Shared values are critical to your success. To be sure there is a need and place for constructive criticism that is given by someone with skin in the game. The cynic is merely looking out for himself. As a leader you must recognize the cynic for who he or she is and not allow that person to distract you or the rest of your team from reaching your goals.

As you develop an awareness for distractors and how they operate you will need to sharpen this vital leadership skill. While on the surface some distractions may seem lighthearted and good natured you must learn to tell the difference. Your leadership and your future depend on it.

What do you say?

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If you enjoy reading Doug’s leadership insights you will especially enjoy reading his books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted. Visit Doug’s website at www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com to order your copies today.

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Leadership Minute: Help Others

Posted October 24, 2013
by admin

It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. – Napoleon Hill

This thought is quite profound especially for leaders. Because we live in “me first” world the rationale for some may not compute. But if you want grow and be successful the way to do it is found in the way you help others achieve their success. Generous leaders have learned the secret of reciprocation that is found through generosity of heart, time, and treasure. When you help others the satisfaction is reward enough but it doesn’t stop there. Your success is compounded as you learn to help others. Every act of kindness is a seed of success. Plant generously.

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If you enjoy reading the Leadership Minute you will especially enjoy reading Doug’s books, Leaders Without Borders & Great Leaders Wanted! Visit Doug’s website to order your copies today.

Website: www.dougsmanagementmoment.blogspot.com

Follow at: www.twitter.com/managemntmoment

Doug is available to speak for your civic, business, or church group. Email Doug at [email protected] for more information.

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